Opposition coalition to seek no confidence vote against parliament chair again

Opposition lawmakers protest during the parliament debate on the motion of no confidence against the speaker. PHOTO/SOCIAL MEDIAopp

The opposition coalition on Monday declared that the motion of no confidence against parliamentary speaker Abdulla Maseeh was taken in violation of constitutional laws and vowed to submit the no confidence vote against the speaker again.

The motion of no confidence against Speaker Maseeh failed with 48 government lawmakers voting in favour of keeping him in position in the absence of opposition lawmakers. Tensions had peaked between government and opposition lawmakers over alleged defects in the parliament’s electronic voting systems with both sides accusing the other of tampering with the voting portals prior to the session.

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan had suggested a roll call vote which was ultimately approved with votes via the same problematical electronic system despite the opposition’s objections. The row had worsened when the system showed that Deputy Speaker Moosa Manik, who was chairing the session, and Galolhu South MP Ahmed Mahloof, who is currently serving a jail sentence, both had votes cast in their names.

The opposition had raised their voices and incited discord on the parliament floor until MP Manik finally listed 13 opposition lawmakers to be removed from the chamber for misconduct. The remaining opposition members had also walked out and the vote on the motion of no confidence against Speaker Maseeh was cast among pro-government lawmakers via roll call.